The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 3 Researchers take the next steps robotic technology ! . By Ankit Sur Daily Staff Reporter From building cars to exploring other planets, robots have proven to be useful partners in advancing human achievement. These magnificent machines have been the focus of many movies, in which they are depicted as mimicking their human counterparts by walking, talk- ing and behaving like human beings. With the latest breakthrough in robotics technology, robots may actually be capable of what many modern movies have depicted, and thus become even more indispensable to our society. University Electrical Engineering Professor Jessy Grizzle and a team of French scientists have designed a robot called RABBIT that can perfectly mimic human ambulatory patterns. When RABBIT is nudged it can regain its balance instantly, which prevents it from falling over like its predecessors would have done. Grizzle and the other researchers were able to accom- plish this feat due to Grizzle's "control theory." "We have designed virtual constraints that synchro- nize the robots' knees and hips," Grizzle said. According to Grizzle, when the robot starts to walk, its leg moves forward and the robot synchronizes its hips and knees in a way that prevents it from falling. A control algorithm monitors the robot's walking motion, and adjusts the legs accordingly. The leg that moves forward then becomes the load bearing leg, and the other leg swings forward about the knee, which acts as a pivot - the same way a human would take a step. Using this simple technique, the robot is able to walk gracefully at 3.9 mph. "We were able to design a control algorithm that FUNDING Continued from page 1 was not pleased with the formula. "In order to get money to some uni- versities it takes money away from other NO 0 universities. I think the effect it will have on some universities in the state will be very, very detrimental," Brown said. TO Brown said the research cap was set TOGO arbitrarily because the University is too successful in drawing federal research money. Brown said he was not sure when the formula would come to a vote in the subcommittee, but he said he and his fel- low Democrats may try to change the cap 8 and use other indicators for the formula. HAS THE Enrollment would be weighted to give WAPES more money for in-state students over their out-of-state counterparts. Each full-time PRIC in-state student would be worth $2,190 to universities while each of their out-of-state peers would be worth $1,642. Wilbanks said the University and other schools play HHHOYu/H a large draw for out-of-state students to come, live and work in Michigan, adding to the state's economy. Wilbanks added F k she worried that if the formula was adopt- ed, it could mean stagnant funding from Try to find t the state. The degrees awarded to students will If you think also be evaluated on a weighted scale: engineering, technology and healthsra (with the na related degrees will be worth twice as display@mich much as natural science or agriculture degrees and fourtimes as much as general Contest sp studies degrees. Winner wil Wilbanks said if the formula became law, state support for the iuiversity could Specialty F become stagnant, but there should be One winner will understanding toward the formula aIny wy. month and wil Ib was able to mimic human walking by defining the way humans walk into a set of equations, which we then translated into control algorithms that controls the robots ability to walk and balance," Grizzle explained. While current bi-pedal robots have large feet to avoid falling over, RABBIT has stilt-like legs instead of feet. RABBIT's predecessors had large feet to achieve proper balance, due to a lack of knowledge in walking dynamics. However, Grizzle said that RABBIT's more complex algorithm, which is the result of more thorough analysis, helps remedy the stiff walking pattern that other robots display. Grizzle's work has a promising future in the develop- ment of human prosthetics. "We can use what we have learned in developing RABBIT and apply it to human beings," Grizzle said. Eric Westervelt, an engineering professor at Ohio State University, is currently working to apply the knowledge learned in developing RABBIT to the design of human prosthetics. Grizzle said. Westervelt said the theory used by the controllers of RABBIT will be helpful in designing prosthetics. Companies that produce prosthetics, such as Ohio Willow Wood, have taken interest in Westervelt's work and plan to use the findings of his analysis to build a human prosthetic. Westervelt joined Grizzle and the team of French sci- entists in 2000, when the was a Rackham student at the University. Grizzle joined the team in 1998, and he plans to build a robot like RABBIT at the University because RABBIT currently resides in France. "We plan to start building a robot that will be able to walk and run more efficiently than RABBIT in three or four months, and it should be completed in a year," Grizzle said. The robot, pictured above, imitates human walking patterns, and can reach speeds of 3.9 mph. The new technology presents the potential for many different uses in the future. LARR )OK(ING ONIAN ATIO( IAL TI1I? AINU.OM BEST AND ,T AIRFARE CESI r u" "-First annual fid lintest! he "fake ad" in today's paper. ' you have found the ad, e-mail your guess ne and page number of the ad) to: higandaily.com (Subject: Fake Ad Contest) onsored by Papa John's Pizza. I receive 1 Free Large, izza for 6 months! be chosen at the end of each be contacted by e-mail.